Top Women Politicians

India was and is full of women who have made success stories of their life in various fields. On the occasion of International Women's Day we drew up a list of the 10 most powerful women politicians in the land. Here you go....

Sonia Gandhi: Since she relinquished the PM's post in favour of incumbent Manmohan Singh, but make no mistake about Madame G continuing to be the power behind the throne. She is savvy enough to not identify herself too much with the Government's policies.

India was and is full of women who have made success stories of their life in various fields. On the occasion of International Women's Day we drew up a list of the 10 most powerful women politicians in the land. Here you go....

Sonia Gandhi: Since she relinquished the PM's post in favour of incumbent Manmohan Singh, but make no mistake about Madame G continuing to be the power behind the throne. She is savvy enough to not identify herself too much with the Government's policies.

Sheila Dixit: In a party where obeisance to the high command ranks higher than individual merit, she is different. Delhi CM Sheila Dixit is different in other respects too. She is no-nonsense, believes in speaking her mind and goes ahead with what needs to be done. It is thanks to her Government that CNG became the norm for heavy vehicles in the capital, leading to a fall in pollution levels, the Delhi Metro became a reality and the hugely unpopular anti-sealing drive took off.

Sheila Dixit: In a party where obeisance to the high command ranks higher than individual merit, she is different. Delhi CM Sheila Dixit is different in other respects too. She is no-nonsense, believes in speaking her mind and goes ahead with what needs to be done. It is thanks to her Government that CNG became the norm for heavy vehicles in the capital, leading to a fall in pollution levels, the Delhi Metro became a reality and the hugely unpopular anti-sealing drive took off.

Brinda Karat: She is the wife of CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat. She hogged headlines over her famous tiff with yoga guru Baba Ramdev, but that's irrelevant. Instead Brinda Karat would rather be known for ensuring that women have found their due in the stodgy Communist Party of India-Marxist, having resigned from the party's central committee once because she felt that women were not given due representation.

Brinda Karat: She is the wife of CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat. She hogged headlines over her famous tiff with yoga guru Baba Ramdev, but that's irrelevant. Instead Brinda Karat would rather be known for ensuring that women have found their due in the stodgy Communist Party of India-Marxist, having resigned from the party's central committee once because she felt that women were not given due representation.

Mayawati: The late Kanshi Ram may have been the soul of the Bahujan Samaj Party but it was Mayawati, his chosen heiress, who was its face. As well as head and heart. Urban and urbane India may never comprehend her politics or its success, but to the millions of Dalits she remains the biggest hope.

Mayawati: The late Kanshi Ram may have been the soul of the Bahujan Samaj Party but it was Mayawati, his chosen heiress, who was its face. As well as head and heart. Urban and urbane India may never comprehend her politics or its success, but to the millions of Dalits she remains the biggest hope.

Vasundhara Raje Scindia: She is the BJP's face in Rajasthan, though she comes from Gwalior in MP. Daughter of the late Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and sister of the late Madhavrao Scindia, the former Minister of State for external affairs in the A B Vajpayee government is Rajasthan's first woman Chief Minister.

Vasundhara Raje Scindia: She is the BJP's face in Rajasthan, though she comes from Gwalior in MP. Daughter of the late Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and sister of the late Madhavrao Scindia, the former Minister of State for external affairs in the A B Vajpayee government is Rajasthan's first woman Chief Minister.